California Activates Heat and Fire Preparedness Measures as Temperatures Rise
Photo Credit: California Governors Office
SACRAMENTO, August 20, 2025 (CALIFORNIA NEWS TODAY) – State officials in California have implemented additional measures to prepare for extreme heat and heightened fire weather conditions expected through the weekend, according to the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom.
The state entered Phase 2 of its extreme temperature response plan on Wednesday, increasing coordination among state and local agencies. Cooling centers have opened in multiple communities, and the State Operations Center at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is on enhanced watch for both heat and fire conditions.
“With several days of extreme temperatures in the forecast for much of California, we’re taking action now to deploy resources throughout the state. And with our new CalHeatScore tool, all Californians can assess the risk to their health down to their zip code in real-time. Check the forecast and make preparations now,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.
The CalHeatScore system, launched this year by the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, provides daily heat risk scores ranging from 0 to 4 for every ZIP code in the state. The system combines weather, climate, and health data to identify risk levels and connects users to resources such as cooling centers and safety information.
The California Department of Industrial Relations issued a high-heat advisory reminding employers to protect workers, with temperatures in some regions forecast to reach 113°F. Since May, Cal/OSHA has conducted 219 targeted inspections at worksites in agriculture, construction, and other outdoor industries and visited more than 300 worksites to provide heat illness prevention information.
In addition to extreme heat preparation, the state pre-deployed wildfire response resources this week to Los Angeles, Kern, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Bernardino Counties. Resources include 32 fire engines, nine bulldozers, five helicopters, and multiple incident management teams, according to Cal OES.
For more information on wildfire preparedness, visit www.Ready.ca.gov. For heat safety updates and resources, visit CalHeatScore.CalEPA.ca.gov.
Source: Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
